Placement rate of graduates report

Goal

To define, understand, and if required, improve the placement rate of WSU undergraduates

Assumptions

Currently, no central unit or system is responsible for the collection of data related to the placement rate of undergraduates after graduation Washington State University. Individual departments, schools and colleges use various methods to gather this data. There appears to be wide variation in the types of data collected, process used to collect that data, and data reported. This is true for internal activity, as well as activity external to WSU. To better understand the needs of WSU regarding the placement rate of undergraduates after graduation, we will seek to answer the following questions:

What processes and applications are in place at WSU to determine the placement rate of graduates?

Contact universities with high response and placement rates to understand the process used to collect data and the factors deemed important by institutional representatives that resulted in high graduate placement rate for that institution

Review National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)

Compare graduate placement rates reported on a national level

Identify a national average for response and placement rates

Identify universities with high response and placement rates

Contact a sub-set of those universities with high response and placement rates

Evaluate the First Destination Survey suggested for use by NACE

Interview stakeholders to identify the outcomes we want to understand

Develop interview questions

Interview

WSU Leadership/Administration

IR

WSU Colleges/Departments (accrediting bodies)

Others (State agencies such as WASAC, WSCTC, etc.)

Contact institutional research units at our IEC peer institutions

Request a copy of the First Destination Surveys they may use to determine their graduate placement rate.

Outcomes

Develop a clear definition of and plan for gathering graduate placement rate data for the WSU system.

Phase III

Possess graduate placement rate data for the WSU system.

Phase IV

If Phase III data determines that improvement is required based on the standard of
graduate placement rate data in Phase I, develop and implement strategies to improve graduate placement rate data.

Efforts should be centralized and properly resourced for the collection and distribution of data. For example, WSU could develop a common data set for placement information since many academic programs collect similar information often for accreditation processes and the diversity of the campus. Programs and campuses submit graduate data to the common data set that is used for institutional reporting and still maintain the ability to collect specific data for their needs. A central process for all students could be developed so that it is only sent to students who are not having data submitted via a program or campus.

Governance would be established for the collection of data so that all efforts are coordinated and non- duplicative. For example, the graduation process in myWSU could include items to survey students before graduation about their placement to facilitate data collection. Specific program or campus needs could then follow up and only ask students to submit missing data for their needs.

Measures

At the conclusion of the Action Plan, success will be measured by a clearly stated definition of graduate placement rate at WSU, a clear standard of measure, and a rate that meets or exceeds that standard.